Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to Ryan Giggs after the veteran winger broke one of his own records to help Manchester United beat Everton 2-0 and take a 12-point lead over Manchester City.

Giggs, 39, became the first player to score in all 21 Premier League seasons when he broke the deadlock at Old Trafford.

The former Wales international had made his debut against Everton, almost 22 years earlier in March 1991, and he marked his 929th United appearance with his first league goal of the campaign.

Giggs is the second-oldest scorer in Premier League history, after his former team-mate Teddy Sheringham, who was 40 when he scored for West Ham against Portsmouth in 2006.

And Ferguson hailed the midfielder after the game, saying: "He is an amazing human being, he is unbelievable. His energy and enthusiasm for the game is just incredible.

"I think all the superlatives have been used up and he doesn't need any because his legacy lives on. In this game again, at 38 years of age…or is he 39? Maybe 40, I don't know, but he's up and down that pitch all day and showing fantastic energy for the game."

Robin van Persie scored the second goal as United won for the 21st time in 26 league games, leaving City in distant pursuit.

But Ferguson ignored suggestions his side have one hand on the title, adding: "The plan is to win the next game and then to try and win our next game and win our next game [after that]. That's the only thing you can do, win your next game and the games whittle away and you run out of games."